Printing plate mounting and proofing press



Jan. 30, 1951 F. Moss ETAL PRNTING PLATE MOUNTING AND PROOFING PRESS 5Sheets-Sheet l Filed DeG. 3l, 1947 INVENTORS. FR/INK' M055.

Jan. 30, 1951 F.. Moss ETAL 2,539,955

PRINTING PLATE MOUNTING AND PPooPING PRESS Filed Deo. 51, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIS.

:q Q; N FRANK Moss. N w JOHN/F Cf/REY JR.

CS BY /tewmf/L/ ATTO RNEY.

F. MOSS ET AL PRINTING PLATE MOUNTING AND PROOFING PRESS Filed DSG. 5I,1947 Jan. 30, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 S Kx mw :NIK WM -m ATTORNEY PatentedJan. 30, l1951) PRINTING PLATE MOUNTING PROOFING PRESS Franklin Moss,Hollis, and `lohn F. Kirby, Jr., Baldwin, N. Y., assignors to MosstypeRoller Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 31, 1947, Serial No. 794,886

1 Claim. l This invention relates to proof-printing machines. It isparticularly directed to a machine and method for mounting amultiplicity of printing plates in exact color register on any number ofplate cylinders and then proong to check `accurate mounting of theprinting plates on the plate cylinders, and by permitting pre-proong thecomposed plate cylinders for quality and color register.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described so constructed that it Will handle any diameterplate cylinder within the limits of the machine, and which is providedwith a dividing head for circumferential spacing.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described a straight edge for aligning the printing plates andwhich may be graduated for longitudinal spacing.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described, transparent adjustable indicators slidable alongthe length of a straight edge which is movable against vthe platecylinder, the indicators being provided with sharply ruled hair lines topermit the exact locating of the printing plates on the plate cylindersso that color registration is assured.

Another object of this invention is toprovide in a machine of thecharacter described, an impression cylinder provided with an eccentricthrow-01T to permit quick changing of plate cylinders without disturbingimpression setting or` lOl-216) 2 proofing to avoid possibility of errordue to slippage of paper.

Yet a further object cf this invention is to provide a machine on whicheither flexible or rigid curved plates may be mounted and colorproofed,said machine being adapted for proofing a single or multiple quantity offlexible or rigid curved plates.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described, means for adjusting the impression cylinder; theplate cylinder and impression cylinder furthermore being engaged bygears for exact control of surface speeds.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described combining mounting and proofing facilitiescylindrically.

A still further object of this invention is toV provide a strong,durable and rugged-machine of the character described which shall berelatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, and adjust,smooth and positive in operation, and yet practical and eiiicient to ahigh degree in use.

A further object is to provide a method for mounting multi-colorprinting plates upon plate cylinders in such manner that the obtainingof perfect color registration may be facilitated.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown various possibleillustrative embodiments of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a press-proofing machine with partsbroken away and in crosssection.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2a is a side elevational view of a detail of a locking arm.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of a modification of theguide bar of Figs.1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view partly in section, showing a modied form ofadjustable indicator and taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is a side elevational viewof the annular dividing head shown in.Fig. L but drawn to a re1-A duced scale..

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of temporary platesupport.

Fig. '1 is a sectional view of the plate support shown in Fig. 6 andshowing a rubber plate in section and its relation to the platecylinder.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 3 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of the plate support shown in Fig. 6, butdrawn to a reduced scale.

Fig. 10 is an elevational View, shown partly in section, of a modifiedform of the guide arm.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, ID designates a press-proofingmachine of the char acter described. The same comprises a frame IImounted on any suitable supports I 2. The frame i I comprises a pair ofparallel, substantially similar vertical frame members I3 and I4interconnected by parallel horizontal transverse tie rods I5. The rodsI5 may be formed with reduced end portions I5 passing through suitableopening's in the frame members. Screwed to the outer ends of the reducedportions I5 are nuts I8 for fixing the frames to the tie rods. \Eachframe member is provided with an upwardly and rearwardly extending armI9. The arms formed with aligned openings 26. Supported on the arms I9and journalled in the openings 2D is a transverse rod 2i for the purposehereinafter appearing.

Said frame members are furthermore formed with aligned V-shaped notches22 opening upwardly. At the upper ends of the notches 22 are spacedhorizontal shoulders Z3 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Each ofsaid frame members is furthermore formed with a horizontal Wall 25. Itwill be noted that the V-shaped notches 22 are disposed between thehorizontal walls 25 and the arms i9, and are at a higher level than thewalls .25 but below the shaft 2l.

Mountable on the frame is a conventional plate cylinder 26 whichcomprises a cylindrical portion 21 provided with trunnions 28. Forconvenience in mounting plate rollers 26 in the device and for theprotection of said trunnions, there are provided trunnion sleeves 29within which the trunnions are freely rotatable. When the cylinder 21 isdisposed between the frame members I3, l 4, the sleeved trunnions restin the V-shaped notches 22. On one of the trunnions may be secured agear 3I. The plate cylinder which is normally used in a printing press,may be taken out of the printing press and placed on the machine IIl sothat printing plates may be mounted and made ready thereon and a proofmay be made, and if the proof is satisfactory, the cylinder may then betaken olf the machine ifi and put back into the printing press. Thissaves considerable time in the use of the printing press as well as timeof the pressman. Plate cylinders may be thus prepared without tieing upthe press.

Means is provided for removably retaining the cylinder 26 on the machineI 5. To this end there is mounted on the shoulders 23, spacing blocks33. Screwed to spacing block 33 and the frame members are pivot pins 34.Pivoted to each pin 34 is a locking arm 35, each formed with a notch 35to engage under the head of a headed pin 31 extending from the oppositeside of the V-block. Screwed to each locking arm 35 in alignment withthe axis of cylinder 26 is a screw 38 formed with a handle 39. At thelower end of each pin 38 and below the locking arm is an inverted V-shaped block engageable with the top of sleeve 29. It will now beunderstood that upon turning I9 are the pin 38 in one direction, block40 may be made to bear down against the sleeves to secure them againstrotation. Upon loosening or unscrewing the pins 38, the arms 35 may beswung out to release the cylinder and permit replacement of anotherplate cylinder.

Detachably secured to the outer end of one of the axles or trunnions 28,as by key 30, is an annular dividing head or disc 42 formed with aplurality of spaced radially extending sockets 43 disposed peripherallyall around the disc. These sockets may be consecutively numbered orindexed from a zero or starting point, as best seen in Fig. 5. Screwedto a side wall of frame member I3 are pairs of upper and lower, headedscrews 44. Attached to the side of said frame member I2, as by saidscrews 44, is a guide bracket 45 formed with longitudinal slots 46through which the shanks of the screws extend. Bracket 45 is formed witha vertical chamber 41. Slidably mounted in said chamber is a plunger 48formed with a pin 49 at its upper end adapted to be selectively receivedin the sockets 43. Interposed between the lower end of plunger 48 andthe bottom of chamber 41 is a coil spring 50. Bracket 45 is formed withan L-shaped slot 5I. Fixed to plunger 48 is a pin 52 passing through theslot 5I. The plunger 48 may be held in retracted position by engagingpin 52, pulling the plunger down, and rotating the plunger to bring thepin 52 into the foot of slot 5I. It will now be understood that thecylinder may be turned to any desired angle and the plunger will engagewithin one of the sockets 43 in the disc or dividing head 42, therebyaccurately positioning the cylinder in desired angular position. Theprinting plates are mounted on the plate cylinder 25.

Means is provided for aligning the plates for accurate longitudinalspacing on the cylinder. To this end there is xed to shaft 2|, a pair ofaligned arms 6U and 6I. Arm 6D is formed with a rearward extension 52interconnected by a coil tension spring 63 to a bracket 64 on the framemember I4. The spring 63 tends to rotate arms 60, 6I, in acounterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 1 of the drawing. Arms 6D,6I, are interconnected by a cross rod 65. At the outer ends of arms 60,6I, is a transverse rod 66. Fixed to the ends of the rod 66 are a pairof parallel arms 68. Arms 68 are interconnected by a shaft 69 on whichis supported a straight edge 10. Straight edge 10 has a through passage,through which the shaft 69 passes. Said straight edge has an upper,downwardly and forwardly inclined surface 'I I, and a downwardly andforwardly inclined under-surface 12 meeting therewith to form an edge13. Edge 13 is parallel to the axis of the cylinder 26. Upon pushingdown the straight edge, the edge 13 will contact the surface ofcylindrical portion 21, to permit aligning of printing plates on saidcylinder. If desired, there maybe frictionally slidably engaged on thesurface 1I of member 10, a number of transparent guides 15. Graduationsor markings 11 may be applied on the surface of the member 10. Sharplyruled lines on the guides 15 will permit exact location of the printing`plate on the plate cylinder so that color register is assured. Ifdesired, the guides 15 may be eliminated, and markings may be made as bya pencil directly upon the ungraduated surface of the straight edge 'IIa(Fig. 2). Such markings may, of course, be readily erased so that newmarkings may be substituted, as desired.

It will be noted that cylinders of various diameters may be mounted onthe frame within limits. After the plates have been aligned, the spring63 will swing the straight edge 'I0 upwardly so that it is out of theWay.

Locking bar I I is pivotally carried on shaft 2I (Fig. 2) `between twospaced collars -I I I, which are secured to the shaft 2| by set screwsH2. Through the pivoted end of bar H0, there eX- tends a stop pin H3which may abut against set screws I I2 when the bar Ilil is swung overto inoperative position, as shown in broken lines at Illia, in Fig. 2a.The free end of bar `I Ill is provided with a gear rack section I I4 formeshing engagement with teeth of gear 3l for locking the gear againstrotation when desired.

Means is provided to mount on the frame, an impression cylinder 8d tocooperate with the plate cylinder 2l. To this end there is fixed toportions 25 of the frame members, parallel guide plates 8I. Slidablymounted on said portions 25 of the frame members and engaging guideplates 8| are pillow blocks 82. Each pillow block is formed with alongitudinal horizontal screw-threaded opening 83 for the purposehereinafter appearing. Each pillow block is formed with a circularbearing B4. The bearings 84 of the pillow blocks 82 are aligned witheach other. Within each bearing opening 84 is a bearing 85 formed withan eccentric opening 86. Cylinder 80 is formed with axial projections oraxles 8l passing through the eccentric opening 86. Each bearing 85 isprovided with an upwardly extending handle 88. On said pillow blocks arespaced stop pins 89, 89a to limit the angular movement of the handle 88.

It will now be understood that upon rotating the handles 88, thecylinder 8@ will be moved without moving the pillow blocks. Thisconstruction provides for a quick means of moving the cylinder 81.1against the cylinder 2l or away from said cylinder without disturbingthe impression adjustment.

Means is provided for moving the pillow blocks simultaneously onportions 25 of the frame members I3, I, in order to accommodatedifferent diameters of plate cylinders, and to this end there isrotatably mounted at the front ends of frame members I3, I4, atransverse shaft 90. At one end of shaft 90 is fixed a hand wheel 9|provided with a handle 92. Upon turning the hand wheel 9|, the shaft 9Bmay be rotated. On said shaft are worms 93. On the frame portions 25 arebearings Q6. Journalled on each bearing SI is a shaft 97 disposed aboveframe portion 25. Each shaft 91 is formed with a screw-threaded portionS8 engaging the threads of one of the threaded openings 83. On eachshaft 91 is a worm wheel 98 meshing with one of the worms 93. It willnow be understood that upon rotating the wheel SI, in one direction, thepillow blocks 82 are moved to the right; and upon rotating said wheel inan opposite direction, the pillow blocks are moved to the left, as seenin Figs. 1 and 2. Thus the position of the impression cylinder may beadjusted accurately as desired.

After the proof has been made of the plates on said cylinder 26, thecylinder is removed from the machine and' another plate cylinder ismounted to receive the plates for the next color. The correspondingplates are mounted upon this second cylinder in the same positionspreviously noted or indicated with respect to the rst plate cylinder.

Attached to each pillow block is a plate Hill engaging the outside rail8l to aid in guiding the pillow block.

The operation of the device will now be understood. A single plate or amultiplicity of printing plates for the first color may be mounted onthe plate cylinder 25 and their circumferential and longitudinalpositions carefully noted or indicated. The paper to be imprinted issecured on the cylinder 80. The cylinders 25 and Sli may be rotated tomake a proofing impression on the paper. The cylinder 8% may be made ofmetal or covered with rubber. The proofs can be made directly on themetal or rubber-covered impression cylinder for transfer proofs or onpaper wrapped on said cylinder. The purpose of the machine is to get theplates on the cylindersy ready for printing so that they may ce quicklyput into printing presses and the run started with a minimum of delay.Any necessary make-ready is taken care of at the same time.

. Furthermore, a number of color cylinders may be impressed on a singlesheet which remains on the cylinder 8i! to give a multicolorproof-printing.

After an impression proof has been made of the first color, atransparent sheet may be wrapped around the proof paper and the secondcolor impression may be made on the transparent sheet overlying theproof of the first color. Thus, should any adjustments be necessary,they may he made and a new transparent sheet wrapped around the proof ofthe first color to receive the next trial impression. When it is seenthat the color plates properly register, the transparent sheet may beremoved and an impression of the second coior plate may be .madedirectly upon the paper proof of the first color impression. In thisway, the registration of the color plates may be compared withoutdisturbing or mutilating the proof of the first color plates.

The straight edge provides for aligning and longitudinally spacing theplates on the cylinder 2?. Much time and expense is saved by takingproofs as thus disclosed herein, before transferring the plate cylinderto the printing press. A much higher quality of work may be done bysimplifying accurate mounting of the plates on the cylinder andpermitting pre-proofing and make-ready of the composed platecylinder'for quality and color register. Plate cylinders of vai'- iousdiameters can be accommodated. The dividing head permits forcircumferential spacing. The eccentric throw-off on the impressioncylinder permits changing plate cylinders without disturbing theimpression setting or proofs of .previous colors. This machine permitslthe making of progressive, multicolor proofs on one sheet of paperwhich remains securely fastened to the impression cylinder Sii duringproofing. Flexible or rigid curved plates be mounted with make-ready andcolor proofed on cylinders This machine, as will now be understood, is aproofing machine for proofing a single or multiple quantity of flexibleor rigid curved plates. The impression cylinder is adjustable byoperation of gears for exact control of surface speed.

The machine may be modified for mounting and proofing two colors at atime. Such modification would include two plate cylinders and a singleor common impression ,cylinder for the two colors. In such case eachplate cylinder will be adjusted to the impression cylinder. It is alsopossible to provide a feed roll of paper through the impression cylinderto a rewind in order for continuous proofing to be available.

' To facilitate the application of rubber printing plates to the platecylinder 23, the temporary plate holder |29, shown in Figs. 6 to 9, maybe used. This device comp-rises two side walls |2|, \more or lesstriangularly shaped for convenience, though shape is unimportant, whichare adjustably spaced on rod |22 each side wall having a lock screw |23for securely fastening its respective side wall |2| in adjusted positionon the rod |22. Both of the side walls |2| are recessed as at |24, tofacilitate their attachment to straight edge 79a which has asemi-circular cross-section. In order to removably retain the temporaryplate holder |2 on the straight edge, the side walls |2| are eachprovided with a spring 22M, shaped as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, andextending into recesses |213. rThe springs |2lia are provided with anose |25 and a hump |26, and the upper ends of the Wire spring aresecured in recesses |21 in the side walls. The confronting faces of theside walls |2| are provided with grooves |28, into which are removablyslid metal or other rigid plates |29 and |39.

When it is desired to mount a rubber printing plate upon the platecylinder 26, the straight edge 76a may be mounted on shaft 69, and theternporary plate holder |2| may be snapped onto the straight edge, asshown in Figs. 6 and 7. Plates |29 and |30 are made in different lengthsto suit the diiferent widths of rubber printing plates P.

When the side walls |2| have been satisfactorily adjusted to suit theparticular printing plate, and plates |29 and |39 of the proper size areinserted in the grooves |28, the rubber printing plate may be threadedunder the straight edge and have both parts of the printing plate lieupon the respective plates |29 and |36, which are inserted sufiicientlyinto their respective grooves to prevent any sagging of the printingplate. Since the plate cylinder 26 may have adhesive applied to itssurface, it is desirable to adjust the printing plate for properlocation on the plate cylinder 26. The rubber printing plate may besquared up and positioned while being supported by the plates |29 and|33, and when properly positioned, the support plate |29 may bewithdrawn slowly so that the rubber printing plate which had hadsubstantially tangential contact with the plate cylinder may now belowered gradually onto the cylinder, and secured thereto. The rear plate|39 may then be withdrawn so as to permit the other end of the rubberprinting plate to contact the plate cylinder 26.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device and method in whichthe several objects of this invention are achieved, and which are welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

A pre-proofing press comprising a frame having parallel, spaced framemembers, means to interconnect the frame members, said frame membersbeing formed with aligned V-shaped notches, a plate cylinder havingaxles rotatably received in sleeves or bushings resting in said notches,lock arms pivoted on said frame members and straddling said V-shapednotches, screwthreaded means on said lock arms having downwardlyextending V blocks adapted to engage the axle sleeves to cooperate withthe V-shaped notches to securely hold the axle sleeves, a straight edgepivotally supported above the plate cylinder and extendinglongitudinally parallel to the axis thereof, said straight edge beingadapted to contact the plate cylinder, counterbalance means for rotatingsaid straight edge in a direction away from the cylinder, a dividinghead on said cylinder, sliding means on said frame to lockingly engagesaid dividing head in various angular positions thereof, a plate holderslidably adjustably mounted on said straight edge for preliminaryholding of a plate preparatory to mounting on the plate cylinder, a pairof pillow blocks slidably mounted on said frame members, an impressioncylinder rotatably mounted on said pillow blocks, and screw-threadedmeans for simultaneously moving said pillow blocks to move theimpression cylinder toward and away from contact with said platecylinder to adjust the degree of impression, and an eccentric throwoifmeans on each pillow block to support the impression cylinder, formoving the impression cylinder away from and towards said plate cylinderwithout disturbing the impression adjustment.

FRANKLIN MOSS. JOHN F. KIRBY, Jp..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 626,031 Osborne May 30, 1899913,119 Ford Feb. 23, 1909 1,264,882 Beach May 7, 1918 1,270,331 SaligerJune 25, 1918 1,555,105 Dausmann Sept. 29, 1925 1,833,897 GabrielsonDec. l, 1931 2,231,187 Hawley Feb. 11, 1941 2,405,795 Luehrs Aug. 13,1946 2,417,496 Huebner Mar. i8, 1947

